The Dance of Dragons | XI

"Just call me if there's anything wrong,"

... SOOTHING SHADOWS

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The gang raced down the stairs, their footsteps echoing through the grand hall, past a room adorned with intricate tapestries and golden chandeliers known as the Hall of Castles. Jay whooped with excitement, leading the way with a mischievous grin on his face.

As they entered the Wand Gallery, the group's eyes were drawn to the sole exhibit on display—the legendary Fairy Godmother's wand. Bathed in a soft blue light from above and below, it exuded an otherworldly aura. Mal and her friends hesitated at the threshold, a sense of reverence washing over them. Jay, always quick to act, sized up the situation and made a move to grab the wand, but Erendil's voice stopped him in his tracks.


"Wait, don't touch it," Erendil cautioned, a note of urgency in his tone.


Despite the warning, Jay attempted to reach for the wand once more, prompting Mal to frantically shout, "Wait, no! No! No! Don't!"


Ignoring her pleas, Jay flashed a cocky smile and boldly entered the exhibit, extending his hand towards the wand. But before he could make contact, a deafening crack filled the air, and Jay was violently thrown back by a powerful shock.


An alarm blared throughout the gallery, causing Mal and her friends to wince in pain as they covered their ears. Suddenly, Erendil let out an ear-splitting shriek that reverberated through the room, sending shivers down their spines. Swirling shadows emerged from his form, resembling clawed tendrils that snaked out and extinguished every candle and lantern in the museum. The once bustling space fell into an eerie silence, leaving Mal to stand up, shaking off the weariness that settled in her stomach.


Confusion clouded their minds as they realized Erendil was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Erendil?" Carlos voiced the question that lingered on all their minds.


"I... I saw him vanish, so let's follow suit," Jay suggested, clapping his hands together in determination. The wand still hovered in the floating threshold, a tantalizing prize waiting to be claimed, and with a shared sense of urgency, they ran towards their next destination, leaving behind the mysterious disappearance of Erendil.

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When they returned to the dorm, there was an eerie absence of their usual companions. Erendil was nowhere to be found, and a sense of unease settled over Mal and her friends. Mal let out a heavy sigh as she and Evie made their way to their respective beds, the weight of the day's events pressing down on them.

As they settled in, Evie turned to Mal, her expression mirroring the concern etched on Mal's face. "What do you think happened to Erendil?" Evie inquired, her voice soft as she lay back on her bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling above. The question hung in the air, a silent plea for answers in the midst of uncertainty.

Mal felt a knot of worry gnawing at her insides, like hungry beasts clawing at her belly. "I don't know, Evie. I don't know. Let's hope we'll see him at school tomorrow," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. With a heavy heart, she curled into her blankets, seeking solace in the warmth of her bed. However, sleep eluded her that night, as her thoughts were consumed by the mysterious disappearance of Erendil and the unsettling events that had transpired.

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In the dark depths of the forest, you found yourself surrounded by towering trees, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with an oppressive silence, broken only by the distant sounds of wildlife. Anger and pain coursed through your veins, a primal fury that threatened to consume you.

Your mother's words echoed in your mind, a warning of the transformation that would come with any loud sound. But nothing could have prepared you for the searing agony that now gripped your body. Roaring in anguish, you felt your form contorting, your human self giving way to a primal, beastly nature.
 As the transformation took hold, your snout elongated, your muscles rippling with newfound strength. A butterfly fluttered across your face, its delicate wings a stark contrast to the ferocity that now consumed you. "Get away!" you bellowed into the empty air, the words torn from your throat in a guttural growl. The forest seemed to shrink back in response to your primal display, a testament to the untamed power that now coursed through your veins.

A thunderous sound echoed through the forest, causing you to whirl around, your wings flaring out in a display of dark stars glittering under the moonlight. "Son, calm down!" The commanding voice belonged to your father, Tiarn, who stood before you with a commanding presence. You inherited his golden eyes, but your features bore a striking resemblance to your mother's, a blend of strength and grace that defined your lineage.

Despite the physical similarities, you carried within you a unique blend of traits inherited from both your parents. Tiarn's words cut through the chaos, his voice laced with concern as he warned of the consequences of your unchecked rage. "You will kill the humans if you keep doing this," he hissed, shaking his head as he peered through the dense foliage, his gaze locking onto your (eye color) eyes.

"I... can't control it, Dad!" you barked in response, your tail lashing behind you, fins splashing out wide in a display of your inner turmoil. The struggle between your human and beastly nature raged within you, a battle that threatened to consume you if left unchecked. As the moon cast its silvery light upon the scene, the weight of your heritage and the primal power that coursed through your veins became all too apparent.

Your father's authoritative growl only fueled your rage further, and with a primal snarl, you snapped your jaws at his face. The clash of teeth and fur filled the air as you roared back, your primal instincts taking over. In a swift and powerful motion, you lashed out at him, catching him in the chest with a forceful blow. Tiarn gasped, his own anger flaring in his golden eyes as he retaliated, his massive talons striking your chin and pressing you down onto the forest floor with a relentless force.

"Son, get it under control," he snarled into your ear, his voice a commanding presence that cut through the chaos. Despite the weight of his body pinning you down, you continued to writhe and struggle against his hold, the primal energy within you surging against the constraints of your human form. The clash between father and son, beast and man, played out in a fierce battle of wills, each moment teetering on the edge of a primal abyss.

"I'm sorry, Dad," you whispered, a sense of remorse creeping into your voice. But Tiarn shook his head, his gaze unwavering as he locked eyes with your (eye color). "It's not your fault. You were doing what you thought was right. But we can't have it stay this way. You must stay away from such triggers. Any alarms, anything loud, will call out the beast within you, no matter what. And if you're with friends, you can't react like this," he explained, his words carrying a weight of wisdom and concern for your well-being. The gravity of the situation settled upon you, a reminder of the delicate balance between your human self and the primal instincts that lay dormant within.

He then leaned down, his warm tongue gently brushing against your cheek as your anger began to fade. Your body ceased its writhing, claws still tearing the forest floor and wings flopping limply at your side. "I'm sorry, Father," you said, at last, a tear running down your eye. Tairn licked it up softly, purring soothingly. "It's okay, son. It's okay. I've got you now.

You let out a low breath as your body reverted back to its human form. Your clothes were worn and torn, but Tairn didn't seem to care. He just pushed his big snout into your chest, and you grabbed it, hugging him tightly as tears now ran freely down your cheeks.

"Did Mom feel it too?" you asked, voice trembling with emotion.

Tairn made a soft, agreeable sound, and you sighed deeply. The weight of the world seemed to lift just a little bit as you found comfort in his presence.

He then drew back and smiled, showcasing all his dangerous, knife-like teeth. "How about I take you home? You take a week off; it will help, I promise."

You shook your head determinedly. "No, I need to go back to my friends to make sure they're fine," you said.

Tairn sighed deeply. "Fine, if that's what you really want," he said, gently nuzzling your hair. "Just call me if there's anything wrong." He stepped back and shot off into the sky with powerful wingbeats, the air rippling in his wake.

You then walked out of the dark forest, stepping back into Auradron Prep and into your dorm room. Happy that you lived alone right now, you stopped and decided to take a shower. Stripping off your clothes, you let the warm water wash away the remnants of the day's turmoil.

Eventually, you lay in bed with wet hair wrapped in a towel. The comfort of your familiar surroundings eased your troubled mind as sleep soon claimed you.